I really need your advice. The problem is my relationship with the classmates. You know I don’t smoke and they say I’m still a baby. That’s not true! I don’t want to smoke. It’s my personal style, I think smoking is dangerous for my health.

What do you think on the problem? How can I persuade them?

Yours,

Sasha

Write a letter to Sasha. In your letter express your opinion and advise him what to do.

Write 100—150 words.

C2 You have 40 minutes to do this task.

Comment on the following statement.

“If you want happiness for an hour — take a nap. If you want happiness for a day — go fishing. If you want happiness for a month — get married. If you want happiness for a year — inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime — help someone else.” (Chinese proverb)

What is your opinion?

Write 200—250 words.

Use the following plan:

make an introduction (state the problem);

express your personal opinion and reasons for it;

give arguments for the other point of view and explain why you don’t agree;

draw a conclusion.

Cl You have 20 minutes to do this task.

You have received a letter from your friend who needs your advice. He writes:

…And now I have a rather big sum of money. I don’t want to waste it on useless things. So, I need your advice.

I’ve been dreaming of two things for a long time: a good computer, maybe a notebook, or a trip to a foreign country. The problem is I like both ideas and I cannot make up my mind.

What would you do if you were me?

Compare your friend’s two choices and explain which one you think he should make. Use specific reasons and details to support your choice.

Write 100—150 words.

C2 You have 40 minutes to do this task.

Comment on the following statement.

“It is important to have someone who’s supportive, a person you can go to with your problem, but someone discreet, who doesn’t go around telling every­one your secrets. I think it’s also important if your friend shares some of your interests and hobbies, has a similar sense of humour, so that you can understand each other better.”

What is your opinion?

Write 200—250 words.

Use the following plan:

make an introduction (state the problem);

express your personal opinion and reasons for it;

give arguments for the other point of view and explain why you don’t agree;

draw a conclusion.

Cl You have 20 minutes to do this task.

You have received a letter from your pen friend Jenny who writes:

…There are a lot of problems in our life nowadays. Certainly, this ruins our health. So we must be careful to our health. It is important to eat healthy food and do it regularly. From food we get all vitamins and microelements necessary for our body to feel well. It is also very important to go in for sport. Sport and physical exercises make us strong and help us to keep fit.

What do you do to be healthy? What food do you eat? How much exercis­ing do you do? What activities help you to be fit?

Write a letter to Jenny. In your letter express your opinion on the problem of staying healthy and answer the questions.

Write 100—150 words.

C2 You have 40 minutes to do this task.

Comment on the following statement.

“Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.” (Chinese proverb)

What is your opinion?

Write 200—250 words.

Use the following plan:

make an introduction (state the problem);

express your personal opinion and reasons for it;

give arguments for the other point of view and explain why you don’t agree;

draw a conclusion.

Cl You have 20 minutes to do this task.

You have received a letter from your friend who writes:

… As a result I understood one thing: I have serious problems with my English. I learn the words easily. And I try to learn grammar rules. But unfortunately I cannot use these rules at all. That’s why I make lots of mis­takes when I speak or write. And it’s also very difficult for me to speak. I start stammering and forget everything I know.

Are there any useful tips in learning English? What should I do to avoid grammar mistakes? Do you think I have a chance to speak a foreign language fluently? What would you recommend me to do?

Write a letter to your friend. Express your opinion and advise him what to do. Write 100—150 words.

C2 You have 40 minutes to do this task.

Comment on the following statement.

“It is prosperity that gives us friends, adversity that proves them.” (Proverb) What is your opinion?

Write 200—250 words.

Use the following plan:

make an introduction (state the problem);

express your personal opinion and reasons for it;

give arguments for the other point of view and explain why you don’t agree;

draw a conclusion.

Cl You have 20 minutes to do this task.

You have received a letter from your friend who writes:

… Last week I had a task to write an essay “An Ideal School as I See It”. It was a very interesting task. I thought it over thoroughly and stated my ideas. My essay was the best.

Surely the place where I study is one of the best in the city, but there are some things I want to be changed. For example, I think it would be nice for the students to choose the subjects they want to study. As for me I would choose Mathematics, Chemistry and History.

What is your opinion? What is an “ideal school” for you? How should the classrooms be equipped? Do you think it is necessary to have the school rules? Why?

Write an answer to this letter. In your letter express your opinion and an­swer the questions.

Write 100—150 words.

С2 You have 40 minutes to do this task.

Comment on the following statement.

“Anorexia is a dangerous eating disorder which often starts in the teenage years. In Britain 5% of girls are anorexic and four out of ten teenage girls skip meals so that they can be thin like fashion models and pop stars. But it’s not just girls — many boys want to lose weight too and they often don’t eat enough.”

Do you think there is such a problem in our country? Is there a way of solving it? What is your opinion?

Write 200—250 words.

Use the following plan:

make an introduction (state the problem);

express your personal opinion and reasons for it;

give arguments for the other point of view and explain why you don’t agree;

draw a conclusion.

Cl You have 20 minutes to do this task.

You have received a letter from your English-speaking friend Kate who writes:

Hi, Mary,

Thank you for your last letter.

It was interesting to know about your Drama Club. My hobby is reading. I have recently finished reading the book “A Farewell to Arms” by Ernest Hemingway. It is a great book about sincere human feelings, love and desire to live. I advise you to read this book. I’m sure you’ll like it. I’m looking forward to hearing from you.

Yours,

Kate

Write a letter to Kate. In your letter thank her for her advice and tell about the book you’ve recently read.

Write 100—150 words.

C2 You have 40 minutes to do this task.

Comment on the following:

“Depression is considered to be a strange type of disease that results from a combination of physical, psychological and social factors.”

Write 200—250 words.

Use the following plan:

make an introduction (state the problem);

express your personal opinion and reasons for it;

give arguments for the other point of view and explain why you don’t agree;

draw a conclusion.

Cl You have 20 minutes to do this task.

You have received a letter from your pen friend Nick who writes:

…I’ve found a part-time work for summer. I don’t want to waste time doing nothing. I want to get some experience and earn money. I’ll also have a chance to help my parents. And I’ll avoid asking them for pocket money when I need it to go to the cinema or to buy CDs.

Do you think it is a good idea for teenagers to work? Do you and your friends work anywhere when you have spare time?